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Loneliness and Social Media Use Among Adolescents with Psychiatric Disorders
Maya Schwartz-Lifshitz1, Nimrod Hertz-Palmor1, Idit Dekel1
1Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division, Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.
Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking
|May 31, 2022
Summary
Loneliness in adolescents with psychiatric disorders is linked to social capital, not social media use patterns. Enhancing online and offline social connections may help reduce loneliness and improve mental health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Adolescent Health
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Prolonged loneliness is a significant risk factor for psychopathology in children and adolescents.
- Understanding factors influencing loneliness is crucial for mental health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between social media use patterns, loneliness, and psychopathology in adolescents with psychiatric disorders.
- To explore the role of social capital in mitigating loneliness within this population.
Main Methods:
- A study was conducted with 65 adolescents diagnosed with psychiatric disorders and receiving outpatient treatment in Israel.
- Data were collected on social media usage, loneliness, social capital (online and offline), and psychopathology indicators.
Main Results:
- Social capital, encompassing both online and offline connections, demonstrated a negative association with loneliness.
- No significant correlation was found between loneliness and social media use patterns, age, gender, psychiatric diagnosis, or disease severity.
Conclusions:
- Both online and offline social capital are significantly associated with reduced feelings of loneliness in adolescents with psychiatric disorders.
- Findings underscore the importance of peer online social support as a potential strategy for alleviating loneliness and supporting adolescent mental well-being.
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